Disinfecting device.



PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.

W. DREYFUS.

DISINPEGTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16 1904.

W 1101655 65: [RVGIZ/wY'.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIOE.

WILLIAM DREYFUS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WEST DISIN- FEOTING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION.

DISINFECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct.17, 1905.

Application filed March 16, 1904:. Serial No. 198,352.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, WILLIAM DREYFUS, acitizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residingin the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Disinfecting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive, and eflicient means for producing formaldehyde gas or other disinfecting and deodorizing substances.

The invention is best used in connection with the substance known as paraform, which on heating becomes converted into for- -maldehyde gas, and the principaladvantages of this invention are the following: The fuel for transformation of the paraform is arranged permanently in compact arrangement, with the paraform itself combined with a special form of support adapted to packing with the fuel and paraform in the smallest possible space. The supporting apparatus is so constructed as to allow free access of air to the fuel. The paraform and fuel are so combined that the heat is rapidly transmitted from all sides to the paraform without allowing the paraform to be ignited, thus utilizing the entire amount of paraform by conversion into formaldehyde without loss by burning or otherwise. The whole outfit is so simple in its operation that any one .can use it without instruction.

The invention in its preferred form is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows the fumigating-tablet in section in proper position on its support, which is shown in elevation; and Fig. 2 shows the tablet and support in elevation as assembled for packing.

The fumigating-tablet as an article of manufacture consists of a tabular piece of fuel of appropriate character and a tabular piece of paraform or equivalent fumigator fitting the recess in the top of the body of fuel.

The fuel and paraform (shown at 1 and 2 in the drawings) are preferably made cylindrical, as indicated in Fig. 2, and they are symmetrically arranged with their upper surfaces practically in the same plane as shown in Fig. 1. The fuel may be of any appropriate character known to this art and usually takes the form of charcoal-dust compressed with appropriate chemicals for promoting slow but certain combustion.

The supporting device consists of a shallow dish-shaped base 3, the edge of which is preferably scalloped or indented, as shown in Fig. 2, on the back of which piece there are riveted or otherwise fixed four flexible standards 4:. These standards can be easily bent up, as shown in Fig. l, to provide solid support on which to place the fumigating-tablet. guide the user in bending up the standards to the proper amount, I prefer to supply an additional square plate 5 above the standards and over the point where they cross. By bending up the standards at the edges of the plate 5 they will all extend upward equally, and so produce a firm bearing for the tablet. The indentations at the edge of the base are preferably used to lessen as far as possible a transfer of heat by conduction to any support on which the whole outfit may be used.

In packing the devices the standards 4; are flattened down on the back of the base 3, as shown in Fig. 2, and the base just fits onto the circular top of the fumigating-tablet. The whole can then be dropped into a circular box 6, thus occupying a minimum of space.

I prefer to wrap the parafor'm in metal foil 7 as shown. This covering has a double function. It prevents loss of paraform due either to dissipation as formaldehyde or to crumbling before use,and during use it protects the paraform from direct contact with the smol- .dering fuel in case the area of ignition spreads through or over the inclosing sides to the surface of the metal foil. This permits the use of a thinner surrounding sidewall of fuel, and consequently a more rapid transmission of heat to the paraform.

In use the tablet is placed on the upturned standards, as plainly shown in Fig. 1, and a' flame is applied to two or three equidistant points on the lower edge of the fuel. The fuel will slowly burn without flame, and the heat produced being transmitted through the fuel directly to the paraform, which is surrounded by the fuel and remains wrapped in the tin-foil, will produce a rapid disengagement of formaldehyde without danger of catching fire to the paraform. By use of this device the heat is made to surround the paraform, and at the same time the greatest possible surface is presented for access of air to the fuel, thus insuring complete-and uniform combustion at all points;

It is one of the main objects attained by this improvement to carry on the process of In order toconversion into formaldehyde with the utmost rapidity. This is particularly important, because of the tendency of the formaldehyde to revert to paraform when the conversion into gas is slow. This I avoid by surrounding the paraforrn with fuel and so placing the latter that the heat of combustion may follow its natural tendency to rise in reaching the paraform.

A variety of modifications may be made in this invention without departing from its scope, and I am not to be limited to the exact details herein shown and described.

What I claim is 1. In a fumigating outfit, a fumigating-tablet and base therefor, two flexible strips attached to the back thereof, and a guide-plate attached over said strips, substantially as described.

2. In a fumigating outfit, a fumigating-tablet, a dish-shaped base having an indented edge and fitting said tablet, flat flexible metal strips centrally attached to said base, and a guide-plate centrally attached to the same over said strips, substantially as described.

WILLIAM DREYFUS.

Witnesses:

H. S. MACKAYE,

FLORENCE PECK. 

